Power-driven dispensing apparatus



y 3, 1957 c. P. TAYLOR 2,800,178

POWER-DRIVEN DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 195: 5 su s-sheet 1 F Ll/V INVENTOR.

CHARLES F! TAYLOR BY I C. P.,TAYLOR POWER-DRIVEN DISPENSING APPARATUS July 23, 1957 Filed Jan. 12, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES P. TAYLOR y 7 M fl770/Y/Vfl6' y 23,1957 v v c P. TAYLOR 2,800,178

' POWER-DRIVEN DISPENSING APP'ARATUS Filed Jan. 12. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet s a; r-u 25 v EJ515495 57 J FIG. 4 Y 97 I I nxLLI I /2' INVENTOR. CHARLES P. TAYI OR y 1957 c. P. TAYLOR 2,800,178

I "k POWER-DRIVEN DISPENSING APPARATUS .Filed Jan. 12, 1953 Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lo I w INVENTOR.

CHARLES F2 TAYLOR y 1957 c. P. TAYLOR v 2,800,178

POWER-DRIVEN DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1953 5 Sheds-Sheet 5 /20 85 [0/7 H6 as INVENTOR. 5' CHARLES F? TAYLOR 6] f y United States Patent POWER-DRIVEN DISPENSING APPARATUS Charles P. Taylor, Belleville, Ill., assignor to Heal Stencil lfilachine Company, Belleville, 111., a corporation of linois Application-January 12,-1953,"Serial'No. 330,766

SCIaims. -(Cl..164-42) Thisinvention relates to improvements in power-driven dispensingapparatus, and more particularly to-improve ments in a powered tape dispenser.

:An-important object of the present improvements is toprovi'de a power deliverymeansithat is fully automatic, .and;particularly adaptedtodeliver-a positively measured .portion -of the material dispensed.

Furtheriobjective features of the present improvements in delivery apparatus, include a. positive delivery-cut-otf mechanism arranged andoperated to terminate automatically the:accurately measured portion of dispensing material immediately .upon termination of actuation of the power delivery means.

Another important objective .is realized in a braking assembly cooperative withithe power delivery means to provide a precise measurement of the material being dispensed, and'to prevent any overrunning of the delivery ,parts upon functional terrriinationofzthe power means.

A still further and important objective is realized in a selector mechanism of a key-board type especially adapted to actuate the power .deliverymeans incident to material to be dispensedyinother words, an adjustable means that exactly determines and signifies an additional amount of material .to be added to the specific value designated by any key element of a selector mechanism. Obviously, this desirable feature further adds to the utility of the dispensing apparatus by permitting asubstantial reduction in the number of key elements 'in :the selector board, and by providing an infinite number of possible measurements of delivery between the stepped key values-thus serving-apurpose of interpolation.

Yetanother valuable objective of the improvements is realized in a combined limit and control switch that is so disposed and arranged as simultaneously to control the actuation of a braking assembly and of the 'power delivery means, and thus permit the use of a greatly simplified linkage means.

The foregoing and numerous otherobjects of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodimenL'particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top-planview of a poweredtape dispenser;

Fig. 2 is a front end viewofthe device shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a-cross sectionalviewof'the device, as taken along'line 3'3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross section as taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, is a fragmentary side elevational view of the circular 'cover plate of the key board and of the increcrernent adjusting means as taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view as taken along line 7- 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the reset mechanisms carried by the coverplate of the key board, as seen along 'line-8-8 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view as taken along line '9- 9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a view in cross section as taken along line 10- -10 of Fig.'9;

Fig. 1 1 is a fragmentarycross sectional view as taken along line 11-11 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 12 is a cross "sectional view as taken along line ?1 2'12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. '13 is an enlarged cross sectional view as taken along-line 13--13'of Fig. 1 1;

Fig. 14is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 11, but showing the clutch assembly in an angularly displaced position;

Fig. :15 is a fragmentary view in cross section similar Ito that shown in' 'Fig.-4, but showing the position of the component parts after actuation of the control switch;

Fig. 16 isa view in cross section as taken along line 16-46 ofiFig. 15; v

Fig. 17 is an enlarged'cross sectional view as taken .alonglline -17-17 of 'Fig. 15;

I Fig. 18 is a fragm'entary view, partly in cross section,

Ias-seenial'on'g line 18- 18 ofFig. 11;

:Fig. l9.is afragmentaryview, partly in cross section, :assseen :along line 1919 of Fig. 4, showing the auto- :maticcuteoii assembly;

Fig. 2 0 isia fragmentary'view, partly in section, as seen along staggeredllinel0-20 of Fig. '19, and

:circularsection 1 2 serving the key selector and connect- .ingclutch mechanism.

Aroll of tape 13 is located in the middle section 10,

and-ispositioned between lateralplates 14 and supported on rollers 15 arranged so as to .permit the tape roll to rotate freely. The tape strip is extended upwardly, thence trained over a flanged pulley =16 rotatively connected to astransverse shaft =1 7secured to the rear portions of the opposite walls .oflthe middle housing part 10. The tape strip i'extendslforwardly ofthe'pulley 16 and overlies the bed plate 18 secured to the top wall of the enclosure section).

Detachablysecured by screws 20 to the bed plate 18 "isiaplatenllwhich carriesa pressure Wheel '22 pivotally connected to spaced brackets'23 fixed to platen 21. The pressurelwheel 2 2 and platen 2 1 are so arranged that the underlying tape 'strip is allowed to slide with only a relatively minor frictional resistance between the bed plate 18 and ,plat'enll, and will engage operatively the .pressurewheel 22 through rectangular aperture 24, as .sh own. in Fig.3. :Anlongate cover 25 is hinged to the 'uppermostreanportion of the middle housing 10 .byhinge .26, theeover :ZS- having downwardly curvilinear end por- Patented July 23, 1957' swung down to a fully closed position.

Motor 27 is located adjacent the middle housing structure 10, and armature 28 thereof is coupled-to a brake shaft 30 (Fig. 9), the brake assembly being later fully described, and thnce connected to a worm drive gear 31. Spaced brackets 32 fixed to the middle housing support and position the worm gear 31 relative to a driven gear 33 secured to one end of drive shaft 34 which extends through the section It and into the circular housing structure 12. From Fig. 4 it is seen that shaft 34 carries a knurled tape-feeding or driving wheel 35, constituting a rotary delivery wheel, the wheel 35 being fixed to' the shaft 34 immediately below pressure wheel 22, and being located so as to extend through registering apertures 36 formed in the top wall and bed plate 18 to engage the underside of the tape strip.

The drive shaft 34 is rotatively journalled in spaced bossed regions 39 formed on the opposite walls of the middle housing section 10, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 12. That end portion of shaft 34 which projects into the circular housing 12 (Figs. ll and 12), carries a driving by pin 48 to the housing. A smaller pinion 41 rotatively connected to gear 38, meshes with the toothed periphery of a gear drum 42, thus acting to revolve the drum 42 about an axis identified with rod 43.

Gear drum 42 is provided with an annular flange or clutch band 44, and a hub connected to the toothed and flanged periphery by spokes 45, the hub being rotatively carried on rod 43. Rod 43 is journalled in a bossed region 46 (Fig. 4) and in the adjacent walls of the middle and circular housing structures.

Disposed over substantially one half the circumference of drum 42, and in spaced parallel relation with the integral gear .eeth, is a pair of attached, superimposed arcuate plates 47 and 48 which as switch-actuating bars. A series of apertures 56 are formed in the arcuate plates, and are located so as to afford two separate and distinct rows. The apertures 50 of one row are staggered with respect to the apertures 50 of the other row, so' as to lieopposite the solid intervening and connecting portions between the apertures of the adjacent row. The apertures 58 in arcuate plates 47 and 48 are in register, but are of slightly ditferent size and configuration, or otherwise stated the apertures 50 of the lowermost arcuate plate 48 are smaller than those formed in the uppermost arcuate plate 47, thus constituting an oifset arrangement that provides a camming surface or shoulder 50 (Fig. ll), as well as a keeper member coacting in latching the individual key plungers elsewhere herein described.

The apertured arcuate plates 47 and 48 (Fig. 4) are connected by bracket 49 to a vertical connecting plate It secured to sleeve 52 journalled on rod 43. A tension spring 53 is secured to one end of the arcuate plates 47 and 48, and is anchored at its opposite end to the housing structure, the spring 53 being loaded to urge the plates clockwise or into the position shown by Fig. 11. Of course, the above structural arrangement permits the arcuate plates 47 and 48 to be rocked counterclockwise within a narrow range, about the rod axis against the loading of spring 53.

A projecting finger piece, generally indicated at 54 and later described, is attached to the opposite end portion of the lower-most arcuate plate 48, and is adapted to operate as a safety device, later described as to function. The finger piece 54 extends slightly beyond the end of the arcuate plates and engages the plunger of control A movable laminated armature 57 is slidably disposed within the solenoid 56, and terminates in a semi-circular head formation 58. Pivotally connected to head for- 4 mation 58 by pin 60 (Fig. 7), is a bifurcate link element 61, the latter being pivoted by a pin 62 to lever arm 63 that is located between the furcate parts. Pivot pin 62 projects outwardly on each side of the link element and serves to anchor a pair of spaced tension coil springs 64. The opposite ends of spring 64 are extended through spaced apertures in the housing, and are secured to the housing by blocking pin 65. Springs 64 tend to hold the solenoid armature 57 and lever arm 63 in the position shown by Fig. 4.

The lever arm 63 is extended upwardly, and is provided with an outwardly curved upper end portion 66 (Fig. 3), which'forms a yoke when a complementary curved piece 67 is attached to the lever arm 63. This yoke is pivoted and secured to bracket 68 by pin 70, the bracket 68 being fixed to the top wall of the middle housing section 10. The yoke of lever arm 63 also receives and positions the inner end of rod 43, which is threadedly received by nut 71 pivotally connected by pins 72 to the spaced yoke parts, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

The clutch assembly is disposd within and cooperates with the annular flange of drum 42, and includes a recgear 3/ in mesh with driven gear 38 rotatively' connected tangular plate or clutch member 73 that is rotatively received by rod or shaft 43. The rectangular clutch member 73 is provided with spaced overlying end pieces 74 (Figs. 4 and 11) which form channels or guides for slidably movable gripping elements or clutch shoes 75. The outermost portions of shoes 75 are formed to provide an arcuate surface compatible with the annular flange 44 of drum 42. t

A shoe-actuating element 76 is fixed to the outer end of rod 43, and includes a recessed portion that slidably receives the projecting hub of the rectangular member '73, and a sloped camming region 77 (Fig. 4) which converges toward the opening of the recessed portion, and which is adapted to shift the shoes 75 radially outward into gripping engagement with the annular flange 44 of rotatable drum 42 when rod 43 is axially displaced by lever arm 63. The shoes 75 are operatively interconnected by a pair of springs 78 (Fig. 11) that'tend to hold the shoes 75 in a retracted position out of frictional engagement with drum 42. Connected to one overlying end piece 74, is a striker 80 which includes an arcuate portion 81 arranged parallel to and closely adjacent the lower surface of the lowermost arcuate plate 48.

Fig. 11 discloses the clutch assembly in a starting or at rest position, the striker 80 abutting a cushioned abutment of arm 82 shown in full lines. Arm 82 is adjustable to other positions, as represented by the dotted lines, to shift the starting position of the clutch assembly, the particular structure and function of which being subsequently described.

A peripheral portion of the circular housing 12 is provided with two rows of spaced apertures 83, the apertures 83 of each row being taggered relative to the apertures of the adjacent row, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, and being of a size to receive key elements 84. Each key element 84 constitutes a plunger or stop element subject to depressing actuation and is characterized by a horizontally disposed tab 85 at the outer end to provide a convenient finger abutment, and a vertical shank 86 (Fig. 11), being the plunger proper, and having a reduced lower portion.

An arcuate wall member 87 secured to housing 12 is located above arcuate plates 47 and 48, and isalso provided with registering apertures through which the reducd shank portions 86 of the key elements 84 extend. A compression spring 88 is disposed asa return or restoring element about each key shank 86, and abuts wall 87 and a shoulder 90 formed on the key element, the spring 88 being adapted to urge the key element 84 outwardly to the inoperative or raised position shownby Figs.- 4 and 11. Pin 91 limits and determines this outermost position (Figs. 11 and 13). a

The lowermost end portion of each key shank 86 1s tension springs 64.

5 provided withtwo downwardly convergent camming amargins 92 and 93, one of which 92 i's adapted to 'coact with the shoulder 50' formed by the offset arrangement of the differently sized-apertures of arcuate plates 47 and 48 to shift the plates slightly to a switch-engagingposition, and the other camming margin 93 being adapted 'tocooperate with striker 80 to disengage the key element 84 from a latched relation to the arcuate plates, and to force the key element to-a raised position. Closely-adjacent and located slightly above camming margin 92 which 'coacts with the arcuate plates 47 and 48, is'ianotched or indented region 94 which receives a portion 'of arcuateplate 48 and detachably secures the key element 84 in Ia releasably latched relation to the plate when the key or plunger is in a depressed position. It will be noted that the force exerted by spring 53 retains the arcuate plate 48 iin'the indented region 94 of the depressed :key element 84.

Removable circular cover'plate95 (Figs. '4 and 8) .is deta'chably secured to the housing .12, :and provides a journal for a short shaft 96 which connects-knob 97 and spring-plate 98. A wound or clock-type spring 100 is disposed intermediate the spring-plate F98 and the cover plate 95, and is connected at one end to :the shaft 96 as a spring arbor, and at the outer end to cover plate 95. Spring-plate 98'includes a circular p'ortion 101 and finger projection 102 normally abuttinga :horizontallprojection 103 connected to the clutch. The loading of :spring 100 tends to urge the finger projection 1102 against clutch projection 103, and hence acts to return the clutch to the starting position showninFig. 111. The knurled knob 97 permits manual adjustment -of springeplate :98, -'and particularly the location of fing'er:projection 102relative to projection 103 incident to cover assembly.

In addition, the lever arm 63 is operatively'connected to the brake assembly. Connecting rod 104 (Fig. 4) .is pivotally connected to lever arm 63 and tozlink member 105. A spreader bar 106, :more clearly ishownin 'Figs. 9 and 10, is supported and positionedby -bracket.107, and is fixed at one end to the link member r105. 'Theropposite end 'of 'spreader bar 106 is provided with a flat reduced position of striker 80 just before engagement.

movement of le'ver .arm '63, a simultaneous action is realized whichreleases the brake and engages the clutch. The clutch is engaged since rod 43 is axially shifted slightly to the left '(Fig. 15 thereby'causing the sloped camming regions 77 of the shoeeactuating element 76 to .force the shoes 75 radially outward into frictional-gripping relation to the annular flange 44 of drum 42.

vAt the same time, connecting rod 104 is moved leftward '(Fig. '15), .and hence spreader bar 2106 forces the brake plates apart against the loading of compression spring 1'18, thus releasing themotor shaft 28. Motor 27 is then allowed to operate through the train including worm gear 31 and gear 33 to rotate the tape-feeding or driving wheel 35. The clutch mechanism is concurrently rotated with drum 42 because of the frictional contact connection of shoes 75 withthe .drum, the drum-42 being directly driven by motor -27 through the described gear train.

Striker 80 and its arcuate portion 81 constitute a movable stop member, limiting member or switch-actuating arm which rotates counterclockwise about the rod axis with clutch 73 until it engages the selected depressed stop element or key element 84, Fig. 14 revealing .the As the striker 80 abuts camming margin 93 of the depressed key element or plunger, the key element is disengagedfrom arcuate plates 47 and '48 and pushed 'upwardly by the camming actionof the key and the plates, whereupon spring88 readily returns the key or-plunger element to its normal raised position.

Immediately .upon disengagement of key element 84, tension spring 53, having been loaded by the depression of the .selected key, urges the arcuate plates 47 and '48 back to the normalor at-rest position shown in Fig. 11,

and-hence opening .control'switch 55. The motor 27 and solenoid .56 are thus-simultaneously de-energized, thus permittingthe tension springs 64 1to pull the solenoid armature 57 .andleverarm 63 .back to the position shown portion 108 located between parallel portionsof brake plates 110 and 111.

Each brake plate includes a medial substantially semicircular portion carrying a leather strip 112 which normally frictionally .grips the brake shaft .30. The upper portions of the brake plates are connected and held in spaced parallel relation by-bolt 113 and nut114, and by compression spring 115 locatedtherebetween. A bolt 116 and-nut 117 similarly connect'the lower-portions of brake plates 110 and 1 11, but a compression spring 118 is arranged between nut 117 and plate 110, thus providing a structural arrangement which tends to close the plates 110 and 111 about brake-shaft 30, as shown in "Fig. .10. The uppermost plate connection, previously described,

permits exact realignment .and adjustment incident to,

frictional Wear of the gripping brake parts.

Upon depression of oneo'f the plungeror. stop elements identified with one of key elements 84, the cammingmar- .gin 92 on the lowermost shank portion"86ibears against the oifset shoulder'50' of'the arcuate plates 47 and 48, and moves theplates slightly counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig.'1'1'to'that shown in Fig. 14. .The indented region94 ofkey shank86 acts to retain .the

arcuate plates in the shifted position against'the'loading oftension spring '53. Consequently, plunger of control switch 55 is depressed by the fingerpiece "5401f the safety device, thus operativelyclosing 'switch 5 5.

The 5 closing of switch 55 starts the motor 27, and simultaneously energizes solenoid 56, whichinturnp'ro- =duces 'an electromagnetic held that urges armature 57 inwardly to the left from the position shown in Fig. 4,

totha't disclosed in Fig/15. Armature 57 'angularly displaces lever arm 63 to a substantially vertical position shown by the full 'lines in Fig. 15, againstthe loading'of It is apparent that upon-pivotal in 'Fig. 4. As lever arm 63 is angularly displaced-or pivotally returned, thespreader bar 106 is rotated by the action of conneeting rod 104 and link element 105, to

allow thebrake plates and .111 to grip and lock shaft I 30 through the compressive force of spring 118, and hence completely stop the rotative action of motor 27. Consequently, it is clear that rotation of tape-feeding or delivery wheel '35 is halted at once upon opening of .the

control switch'55, thus, by prevention of overrunning' by the brake providing for an accurate measurement of the 'amount of tape fed under the cut-off mechanism.

tion of drum 42is stopped, since it is connected by the gear trainto the motor 27 which is de-energized by the opening of control switch 55. The component parts of the tape dispenser, described above, are now restored to thenormal starting positions, and are ready for any subsequent repetition of the working or dispensing cycle in cident to a depression of one of the key-plunger elements 84.

Each key element 84 on the circular keyboardis provided with a separate and distinct character of designation,'such as 'a number, indicative of the amount of tape fed under cutting blade 120 by the driving wheel 35 serving as a material-delivery member. Obviously, the spaced and staggered arrangement of the rows of key elements 82, to operative engagement with any particular depressed key element 84, upon actuation-of geardrum 42 and inmatically the piece 54 (Figs. 8 and 18).

' tegral clutch band or annular flange 44 by the motor 27 through the previously described gearing arrangement.

For example, if any particular'key element .84 is thepressed, the clutch assembly rotates from starting arm 82 to the specific key-plunger element 84, thus allowing the control switch 55 to remain closed for a time interval suflieient to permit delivery wheel 35 to feed that amount of tape under the cutting blade 12!) which'is equal to the value indicated on the selected key element 84, considered as a selector.

If for some obscure reason, the striker 80 fails to disengage a depressed key-plunger element 84 from latched engagement with arcuate plates 47 and 48, the control switch 55 will remain closed, but the striker 89 will eventually engage during the course of its travel the safety device more clearly disclosed in Fig. 18.

This safety arrangement includes a spring 121 connected to arcuate plate 48 and to finger piece 54, and tends to urge the piece 54 clockwise into the position shown by the full lines. The rear portion of the finger 'piece 54 aflords an obliquely inclined camming shoulder '-noid 56. An arm 123 (Figs. 8 and 18) pivotally carried by the circular cover plate 95 is adapted to rset the pivoted safety piece 54 after the clutch assembly is returned to its starting position, but is only required to be used in the ex ent spring 121 does not function to revolve autolf spring 121 does not operate to return safety piece 54 from the dotted v line'portion (Fig. 18) to the full line position, the arm 123 may be rotated by an outside handle (Fig. 8) until the arm 123 engages piece 54 and moves it to the operative position.

Cooperating with the action of lever arm 63 is a transverse lever system or switch-actuating means which actuates the cut-off mechanism, this system consisting of rocker arm 126 is a projecting cam element 127, best viewed in Figs. 4, 15 and 16. In the normal aft-rest position of lever arm 63 (Fig. 4), the cam element 12-7 is supported on top of wheel and spring arm 128 of switch 13'!) fixed to the housing.

When lever arm 63 is moved to the vertical position of Fig. 15, the rocker arm 126 pivots slightly clockwise (Fig. 15) to the location determined by stop pin 131 on lever arm 63, and hence automatically presets switch 130, since the curvilinear end of cam element 127 is now located in adjacent abutting relation to the wheel and spring arm 12%. After the specified amount of tape is delivered under the cutting blade 120 which constitutes a material cut-off means or severance element, the control switch 55 is opened by the events previously discussed, and lever arm 63 is angularly displaced to the position shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 15. This return displacement of lever arm 63 forces cam element 127 on rocker arm 126 against the switch wheel 128, and hence closes switch 139.

Solenoid 132 (Figs. 19 and is energized through switch 130, and creates an electromagnetic field which acts on laminated solenoid armature 133. The semicircular head formation of armature 133 is pivotally connected to one end of link element 134, the opposite end of link element 134 being pivotally connected to an L- shaped member 135 secured to the. free end of the cutting blade 12G. Bracket 136, attached to the top wall of the middle housing 10, serves as an anchorage for one end of tension spring 137, the other end of which is connected to a pin 138 fixed to the L-shaped member 135, the spring 137 being adapted to urge cutting blade to the opened or raised position shown.

Upon closing switch 130, solenoid 132 is energized and acts to pull the armature 133 and hence the cutting blade 120 downwardly against the loading of spring 137. After the tape' is completely severed, a horizontal projecting rod'140 connected to the solenoid armature 133 strikes the angularly' upturned portion of rocker arm 126, and pivots rocker arm 126 clockwise (Fig. 20) or counterclockwise (Fig. 15), thus operatively disengaging the cam element 127 from switch 130. Immediately when switch'130 is opened, solenoid 132 is de-energized, whereupon spring 137 restores the cutting blade 121) and solenoid armature 133 to the fully raised or inoperative position.

Although the selection of any particular key-plunger element 84 will deliver a specified amount of tape, it is sometimes advantageous and desirable to deliver an amount other than that specifically shown and determined by any of the key elements. To accomplish this result, a delivery increment means is provided, which consists of an abutment arm 82 slidably connected to the circular housing 12 by threaded pin 141 and nut 142, as shown in Figs. 6 and 11. A knob 143 received by pin 141 permits the arm 82 to be fixed or adjusted in any location within the range determined by the length of an elongate or limiting means 144 formed in the housing.

The adjustment of arm 82, as for example to the position represented by the dashed lines of Fig. 11, resets the starting point of the clutch assembly that abuts arm 82, thus requiring the clutch to travel a greater distance before the striker 80 disengages a selected depressed key element 84, and permitting the tape-feeding or delivery wheel 35 to rotate for an additional distance dependent on the established locationof arm 82.

A pointer 145 secured to ,arm 82 indicatesv on a scale 146 formed on the circular cover plate 95, the added amount or increment of tape delivery caused by resetting the starting position 'of the clutch within the range determined by slot 144. Of course, this additional amount of tape, indicated by scale pointer 145, which will be fed under the cutting blade 120 by driving wheel 35, should be added to the value designated by any particular key element 84 in order to ascertain the total length of tape delivered when that key is depressed. The above described delivery means permits any desired length of tape to be delivered and controlled by the key selector means in amounts other than that particularly designated by the key elements alone. Thus the increment means described, provides, in effect, for delivery of any amount of material, such as tape for example, within and somewhat beyond the range of key-indicated values.

A separate compartment or reservoir 147 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9) supplies water to brush 148 for moistening the adhesive on the tape as it is fed under the cutting blade 120 and subsequently pulled free of the dispenser. Holding the tape strip against the brush, is a weighted element 150 pivotally connected at one end portion to the top wall of the middle housing.

Furthermore, bottle 151 is filled with water or other adhesive softener, and slowly replenishes the supply of the reservoir 147 upon any depletion due to evaporation or use. A heating element 152 (Figs. 2 and 9) is installed in the reservoir 147 to heat the water,- and is provided with a rheostat plug 153 to control the temperature. Switch 154 is connected to the heating cir' actuates switch 130 to energize solenoid 132 which actuates cutting blade 120, and switch 154 that causes energization of the heating element 151 and lamp 155.

Although the improvements have been described-by making particularized reference to a single preferred embodiment, the detail of description is not to be understood as restrictive, numerous variants being possible within the principles disclosed and within the fair scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for dispensing measured amounts of material from a supply thereof including a powered delivery means, the combination of a severance element, an electrical circuit and control elements including a switch associated with the severance element, a rocker arm connected to the powered delivery means, said rocker arm being movable to a switch-presetting position upon actuation of the powered delivery means, and being movable to a switch-closing position upon completed actuation of said delivery means, whereby to actuate the severance element to terminate positively a measured portion of dispensed material, an arm connected to the severance element and adapted to move the rocker arm to a switch-opening position upon termination of the measured portion of dispensed material, and means for restoring the severance element to inoperative position.

2. In an electrically powered device for delivering a predetermined amount of strip material including a powered delivery means, the combination of a material cutting blade, an electrical circuit and control elements including a solenoid and a switch associated with said cutting blade, a pivoted rocker arm connected to the delivery means, and normally disposed in an inoperative position relative to said switch, a cam element carried by said rocker arm and adapted to move upon operative actuation of said delivery means to a position as to preset said switch, said cam element being movable to a position as to close said switch upon completed actuation of said delivery means, whereby to energize said solenoid and hence actuate the cutting blade to sever the measured portion of strip material, an arm connected to said cutting blade, and arranged to move the rocker arm and said cam element to the normally inoperative position as to open said switch upon severance of the strip material by said cutting blade, and a spring connected to said cutting blade and adapted to restore said blade to inoperative position.

3. In a device for dispensing measured amounts of material from a supply thereof including a delivery means, the combination with a severance element, an electrical circuit and control elements including a switch associated with the severance element, switch-actuating means connected to the delivery means and normally disposed in inoperative position relative to said switch, said switch-actuating means being movable to a switchpresetting position upon actuation of the delivery means, and being movable to a switch-closing position upon completed actuation of said delivery means, whereby to 10 actuate the severance element to terminate a portion of dispensable material, and means connected to the severance element and arranged to move the switch-actuating means to the inoperative position to open said switch upon termination of the measured portion of dispensed material by the severance element.

4. In a device for dispensing measured amounts of material from a supply thereof including a delivery means, the combination with a severance element, an electrical circuit and control elements including a switch associated with the severance element, switch-actuating means connected to the delivery means and including a portion normally disposed in inoperative position relative to said switch, said portion being movable to a switchpresetting position upon actuation of the delivery means, and being movable to a switch-closing position upon completed actuation of said delivery means, whereby to actuate said severance element, and striking means connected to the severance element and arranged to coact' with the switch-actuating means to move said portion to the normally inoperative position as to open said switch upon severance of the material by said severance element, and means for restoring the severance element to inoperative position.

5. In a device for dispensing measured amounts of material from a supply thereof including a delivery means, the combination with a severance element, an electrical circuit including a solenoid and switch associated with the severance element, a switch-actuating means connected to said delivery means and normally disposed in inoperative position relative to said switch, said switch-actuating means being movable to a position as to preset said switch upon actuation of said delivery means, and being movable to a position as to close said switch upon completed actuation of said delivery means, whereby to energize the solenoid and hence actuate the severance element to sever the material, and means connected to said severance element and arranged to move the switch-actuating means to the normally inoperative position as to open the switch upon severance of the material by said severance element.

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